It wasn’t just Edmonton Oilers fans who were in awe of Connor McDavid’s hat-trick performance on Tuesday night.

The Oilers captain extended his point streak to 16 games against the Nashville Predators, scoring three goals in a 6-2 victory. It was a dominant night from McDavid, with each goal being prettier than the last.

He opened up the scoring with a beautiful power-play marker where he wrapped the puck around Nashville’s Juuse Saros. He then gave the Oilers insurance with a superb deke on a penalty shot, and then finished the night with a give-and-go with Leon Draisaitl.

McDavid penalty shot? You know how this story ends 😮‍💨 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/yVCypG06am

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 7, 2026

It was fitting that the game was preceded by a brief ceremony where the Oilers captain was awarded the Molson Cup, given to Edmonton’s best player throughout December.

Curtis Lazar met with the media after the game, where he said he helped spark McDavid to the hat trick by threatening to take January’s Molson Cup.

“It’s unbelievable. I told him I scored that goal, I’m going for the Molson Cup this month,” Lazar joked. “I think he took that personally. He’s world-class at what he does. You marvel at the things he does.”

“Just go out there & leave it all on the ice.”

Curtis Lazar checks in after netting his third goal of the season in tonight’s #Oilers win.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/BQo7cvIEtu

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 7, 2026

Lazar had himself a nice game as well, scoring the eventual game-winner with a gritty net-front marker in the second period. The 30-year-old Lazar could find a way to take home January’s Molson Cup, but it will be quite a challenge when McDavid is scoring at his current pace.

McDavid now sits atop the NHL scoring race with 75 points through 43 games, which is just one point ahead of Nathan MacKinnon for the top spot. Thirty-nine of those points have come during the last 16 games.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been in Edmonton for the entirety of McDavid’s career, and said he looks more dangerous than usual.

“Right now, he’s attacking,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Every chance he has, he’s taking it to the net, whether he’s shooting it, beating guys and taking it there… I think the way he’s attacking right now is what’s creating.”

“Pretty solid 60, every line was going, every D pair was going.”

After hitting 500 career assists in tonight’s #Oilers victory, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins chats with the media. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Pax4eMsTpX

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 7, 2026

There were some question marks around McDavid’s offensive game earlier this season. He even admitted that he was passing up too many opportunities instead of taking the puck to the net.

When he spoke to reporters after the game, he tried to put that narrative to rest.

“You guys like to talk about me shooting the puck, I’ve said I’ve wanted to shoot the puck, and I’m shooting the puck, there you go,” McDavid said.

“I’ve said I want to shoot the puck & I’m shooting the puck.”

Connor McDavid speaks after registering a hat trick in tonight’s 6-2 #Oilers win over the Predators. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/pS1m8vy4Ip

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 7, 2026

Oilers fans are hoping that McDavid will keep shooting the puck as Edmonton tries to regain control of the Pacific Division.